Middle East Experience

Dubai International Airport saw the coronavirus pandemic push passenger traffic down by an unprecedented 70 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year, its CEO announced Monday, even as the airport held onto its prized title as the world’s busiest for international travel.While the key east-west transit point started to see an uptick in traffic after long-haul carrier Emirates resumed its routes last summer, the airport’s 2020 passenger load of 25.9 million is still a trickle compared to 2019.Airlines slashed their schedules and flights declined by more than 50 percent with less than 80 percent of seats filled.For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.“In the past year, we have witnessed the most difficult circumstances the travel industry has ever faced,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, adding that the 2020 figures “are reflective of that testing environment, but also come with an element of hope and confidence.”For months as the travel industry collapsed worldwide, Dubai’s massive airport, which saw 86.4 million passengers in 2019, became a ghost-town of shuttered shops. But recovery gained momentum in December as the city promoted itself as a pandemic-friendly vacation spot for tourists fleeing tough restrictions back home.In December alone, passenger volumes surpassed industry expectations at 2.19 million, the airport said. Israelis flocked to the United Arab Emirates after a breakthrough normalization deal and lockdown-weary travelers poured in to celebrate the holidays and New Year’s Eve at crowded bars and luxury hotels.Underpinning Dubai’s reopening since last July has been an aggressive coronavirus testing campaign, with visitors welcome from anywhere as long as they get tested on arrival and in many cases before departure.Now, Griffiths said, the airport is betting on a swift rollout of coronavirus vaccines to “encourage more people to get on a plane,” along with contactless and thermal imaging technology. The UAE has launched the world’s second-fastest coronavirus vaccination drive, with 50 doses administered per 100 residents as of Monday.Despite signs of life, and vaccines offering a glimmer of hope, the industry’s outlook remains uncertain. Although overall demand is expected to rise this year, airlines are showing caution on international routes.Wide-body jets used for long-haul flights, like Emirates’ iconic fleet of double-decker Airbus A380s, stand idle.Vaccination campaigns have sputtered worldwide and concerns have risen over more transmissible virus variants. Ever-changing quarantine requirements across the world have thrown itineraries into disarray.Meanwhile, the UAE is struggling with a major surge in coronavirus cases, prompting countries to halt flights to Dubai and the city’s government to impose restrictions that may disrupt its economy.The United Kingdom banned all direct flights to Dubai last month, freezing the world’s busiest international air route. London was ranked as the top destination city for Dubai’s airport last year, with 1.15 million customers.Dubai International Airport first surpassed London Heathrow as the world’s busiest airport for international traffic in 2014. It has retained the crown ever since, with some 90 airlines flying into the commercial entrepot. Heathrow, hit hard by the pandemic, said it was overtaken as Europe’s busiest hub by Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris last year.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.For Dubai, a sheikhdom of skyscrapers in the UAE, the resumption of long-haul air travel is built deeply into its business interest. Emirates remains the linchpin of the wider empire known as “Dubai Inc.,” an interlocking series of businesses owned by the city-state.Read more:Dubai's Emirates head doesn’t see travel recovery until year-endCoronavirus: UAE extends visit visas of British tourists for free after travel banEmirates airline expects full fleet return this year as vaccines renew confidence
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Dubai airport sees passenger traffic drop 70 percent amid COVID-19 pandemic

Repeated attacks on Turkish posts and soldiers in Idlib are obstructing Turkish efforts to reopen the M4 international highway and cement the cease-fire, raising questions about the parties behind the attacks.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Who benefits from attacks on Turkish forces in Idlib?

The UAE recorded 3,123 new coronavirus cases, 4,892 recoveries and 12 deaths within the last 24 hours, the country's Ministry of Health reported on Monday.According to the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), 162,774 tests were conducted and the 13 deaths that occurred were due to underlying complications.Read the latest updates in our dedicated coronavirus section.NCEMA's website states the cumulative number of currently active cases is 14,137, the total number of diagnosed cases is 351,895 and the death toll stood at 1,027 as of February 15.The country, with a population of nearly 10 million, is currently leading one of the world’s most efficient vaccination drives, with over 5 million administered vaccinations so far.The UAE has been encouraging citizens and residents to get vaccinated against the virus and is currently offering the Sinopharm vaccine. Dubai, one of the seven emirates, has offered Pfizer, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines to its residents and citizens.Read more:Dubai's Emaar Malls' profit falls by two-thirds during COVID-19 pandemicBusiness owners ponder whether to require COVID-19 shotsVirus may never go away but could change into mild annoyance: Experts
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE records 3,123 new COVID-19 cases, 4,892 recoveries and 12 deaths

Egypt wants to support Sudan in ridding its school curricula of extremism, which was established under former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and following the Muslim Brotherhood’s seizure of power in Sudan.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Egypt, Sudan cooperate to eliminate extremism in school curricula

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have arrested a gang for smuggling over $17 million (SR64,860,000) and nearly 19 kilograms of gold abroad, the official Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The members, accused of money laundering and bribery, were sentenced to prison for up to 64 years total, in addition to having $272,000 (SR1,020,690) seized from one of the perpetrators while he attempted to travel outside of the Kingdom, according to SPA. His vehicle was also confiscated.The bust included both Saudi nationals and foreigners. In addition to imprisonment, the citizens were sentenced to a travel ban while the foreigners are to be deported after they serve their prison term.There are procedures underway to recover the smuggled money from abroad, according to the news agency.“The Public Prosecution stressed that it will spare no effort in implementing the directives of the country’s leadership by strictly implementing the regulations against all those who are tempted to commit such crimes, preserving the capabilities and gains of this dear homeland and eliminating and fighting organized crime,” SPA said.In September last year, Saudi Arabia arrested nine expatriates for illegally transferring money abroad. A total of $266,640 (SR1 million) were also seize from the group.One month prior, authorities arrested a group for illegally transferring more than ($133 million (SR500 million) abroad.Read more:Saudi Arabia arrests nine expats for illegally transferring money abroad: SPASaudi Arabia sentences corrupt judge, others to prison, issues finesSaudi Arabia extends COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, events, dining services
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia busts gang for smuggling gold, over million abroad: SPA

The Islamic State organization (IS) kills a large number of regime forces on an almost daily basis in the Syrian Desert, which has turned into a black hole draining the regime forces.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Islamic State escalates attacks in Syrian desert

Conflicting messages from Israeli authorities cause tens of thousands of Palestinian laborers to be stuck in the West Bank, unable to reenter Israel for work.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Conflicting messages leave Palestinian workers outside Israel jobless

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi announced early on Monday morning the arrest of a so-called “death squad” he said was responsible for assassinating activists in Basra in southern Iraq..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iraq arrests ‘death squad’ over assassination of activists

Stories making headlines in Qatar on #TheRoundUp 💡 Qatar to boost Gaza’s electricity supply 📱 New health updates as health ministry adapts to rising cases 🏃‍♂️ Qatari athlete qualifies for @Tokyo2020 🪐 Five planets to cross Qatar’s sky..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: The Round Up 15 Feb 2021 – Doha News Qatar

Dubai Tourism carried out more than 41,000 inspections during the past year..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Covid safety: Dubai shuts down 62 tourist venues over violations last year